Pete’s Pigskin Preview: Hale Center Owls
2025: 9-2, made playoffs
HALE CENTER, Texas (KCBD) - During last year’s 9-2 run, the Hale Center Owls proved to have one of the best defenses across the South Plains- posting five shutouts and held three more opponents to one score or less. Head coach Marc Puente says the Owls are super-charged once again for 2026 with a younger team moving up to 2AD1.
“We lost a big group, and so our big emphasis was leadership and I think those kids have really done well in adjusting and growing up. We’re young and experienced, so the offseason was really, really good and the first week of practice has been really, really well.”
With the loss of many skill players from last season, Puente believes their success will start in the trenches.
“I think our offensive line is going to be our strength. We’ve got a lot of returners back. I think we’ve kind of leaned on them the last few years, and so definitely that’s going to be a strength and then the experience of our young kids. We’ve got a lot of sophomores and juniors playing, but they had some experience last year.”
Key returners include: QB Martin Cano, Darius Borrego, Julian Gonzales, Jeremiah Guerrero, Brandon Lopez, Damian Martinez, Elias Ochoa, Aiden Shaver, and Josiah Vara.
Pete’s Pigskin Previews are sponsored by Grid Iron Bells.
2026 schedule is listed below. Kickoff times set for 7 p.m.
- 8/28 @ Seymour
- 9/4 Highland Park
- 9/11 Wheeler
- 9/18 @ Smyer
- 9/25 Clarendon
- 10/2 Iraan @ Andrews
- 10/9 @ Farwell*
- 10/16 BYE
- 10/23 Tulia*
- 10/30 @ Floydada*
- 11/6 Olton*
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